ET Review: ASUS ET2410 AIO

NEW DELHI: Combining style and performance, this new all-in-one from Asus seems to have taken inspiration from Apple's iMac.

The slim design is complemented by a sturdy base stand that offers easy tilt adjustment for the screen. The 23.6-inch full HD touchscreen is a joy to work on — it has rich colors, deep blacks and is responsive to the touch.

However, a big letdown is that the machine still runs Windows 7 and not the touch optimised Windows 8 — the multi-touch display on it will obviously work great with Windows 8.

The machine is great for any purpose — entertainment, gaming, multimedia editing, web browsing and office work. It has a quad core Intel Core i5 processor, 6GB RAM, 1TB hard drive and a dedicated Nvidia graphics card.

There are more than enough ports: 6 USB ports, Ethernet, esata, muti card reader. A nice bonus is the HDMI input — you can use it as a monitor with a set top box, Blu-Ray, game console etc. Audio output is impressive thanks to the built-in speakers and the supplied external sub.

However, the subwoofer's wire is too short — therefore, the sub needs to be kept right next to it.

Another issue is that display adjustment keys are hidden away.

A wireless mouse and wireless keyboard are included in the price and overall we feel this is a value-for-money machine. You can also get a touch-enabled Windows 8 all-in-one with slightly lower hardware specifications such as the Dell Inspiron One 23 (Rs 61,990).

Else, the Lenovo IdeaCentre B540 (Rs 65,790) offers similar specifications with a 3D ready touchscreen display.

Price: Rs 70,000

Specifications: 23.6-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) touchscreen, Intel Core i5, 6GB RAM, 1TB HDD, Nvidia GT630M graphics, Windows 7 Home Premium,10.8 kg

Positives: Good build quality, full HD touchscreen, good performance, great sound output

Negatives: Runs on Windows 7, cumbersome display setting keys, short subwoofer wire





karan.bajaj@timesgroup.com